Automatic zero printing means



1967 G. K. LUNGWITZ AUTOMATIC ZERO PRINTING MEANS Filed July 29, 1965 United States Patent n 6 Claims. (Cl.197-17) The invention concerns an arrangement for automatically printingone or more zeros following the printing of a significant digit and without which printing of the zeros a printedvalue would be incomplete.

' Mechanisms are known which obviatethe need for repeated-depression of the same keyespecially such repeated depression of the zero key-for the purpose of entering zeros after a numerical value to thereby complete the capacity of aregister. Such mechanisms require that the zeros be first entered into a pre-selection mechanism. Thereafter, an entry mechanism receives the significant digits which are to precede the zeros in the print-out. A function key is then depressed whereby the pre-selected zeros are transferred from the pre-selection mechanism to the entry mechanism. The value which has thus been entered into the entry mechanism is printed on the paper tape.

-' Such mechanisms are peculiarly suited to bookkeeping machines and calculators, since values are transmitted through an entry mechanism before print-out. These mechanisms have the disadvantage that the number of zeros must be pre-selected, thus requiring a great number of complicated mechanical elements, each of which is a potential source of malfunction. It is an object of the invention to provide means whereby the requisite number of zeros may be automatically printed immediately after the last significant digit has been printed in order to complete a number.

This object is achieved by activating a magnet under control of a key to cause repeated entry of a zero. Means are provided whereby the circuit of this magnet is interrupted when the zero type lever has passed a certain point in approaching the platen. The circuit is re-established when the type lever passes this point on its return movement, thereby activating the magnet for another stroke of the zero type lever. This operation is repeated until the carriage has moved out of the range of a last contact bar provided on a program bar for the purpose of controlling the operations in the value column.

It is a further characteristic of the invention that the key which serves in activating the automatic zero print mechanism is identical with the generally known tubulator key, so that both functions are alternately served by the same key.

A further characteristic of the invention is found in the provision of adapting a program bar, by minor modifications, in connection with switching means, to permit the automatic print-out of the decimal point at any selected position within the value column.

If in the course of an invoicer operation it becomes necessary to enter a value which does not exhaust the ordinal printing capacity of the respective column and the printing of zeros is not desired, the tabulator key, the space key, or the return key may be depressed to limit, in generally known manner, the extent of entry in the typing column.

Details of the invention appear in the drawing and are explained in the following description. The drawings are limited to the elements immediately connected with the inventive concept, all other elements having been omitted.

According to one possible embodiment of the invention a tabulating function involves the depression of a key T to 3,301,371 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 close and then open a switch. With contact K2 closed an electromagnet M2 is energized. This initiates tabulation, in known manner to a desired columnar position. In this position, a particular value, e.g. 230000, may be entered by depressing the keys 2 and 3 which causes these numbers to be printed on a form. The printing of the first of these digits, the 2, causes, by conventional means,

not shown (such as the initial movement of a pin carriage from its initial position), the closing of a contact K0 and the energization of a relay R1. The latter closes the double pole contact K1 which results in the energization of a relay R2 and the switching of a contact K2. The circuit for the automatic zero print-out is thus prepared and the value 23 which has bee-n printed is rounded out by the entry of four zeros. The zero print operation begins with the depression of the key T whereby the relay R3 is energized and closes a contact K3. Thus, by means of the lead 8a, slip contact 8b, contact bar of aprogram bar 8 (on a shiftable carriage, for example), and the contacts K1, K3, and K4, a circuit is established which energizes the solenoid M1. The latter is linked to a zero print lever 7 by means of a bar 6 and causes the zero print lever to be activated.

'Shortly before the zero print lever 7 strikes the platen, the contact K4 is opened, by means of the lever 6.1 which is connected with. the lever 6, and the solenoid M2 is deenergized. When the zero print lever returns, the contact K4 is closed again by the same parts. The solenoid is again energized and causes a second zero print movement of the type lever 7. The zero print-out is repeated until the slip contact 811, which is moved by means of the typewriter carriage in a known manner, has left the last contact bar finger 8c which is provided on the program bar 8 for the control of the print-out in the column 9. In that event, known and therefore not described elements become effective to open the contact K0, thereby de-energizing the relay R1, and forcing all mechanical and electrical elements which were instrumental in the automatic print-out of the zeros to assume their respective normal positions.

Should it be desired to print a character in any order within the number shown, i.e. in seventh line of the number column 9, it is merely necessary to connect any contact bar 80 (see the broken representation exemplifying this) with a contact bar 8d, instead of the bar controlling the automatic zero print. In this case, an electromagnet M3 is energized by means of the bar 8a, slip contact 8b, contact bar 8d, the lower pole of contact K1, to cause printing of a decimal point automatically in the preselected place. Obviously a well known holding circuit may be provided to keep R3 energized even though key T is released.

I claim:

1. All automatic repeat character recording device comprising:

(a) a first contact bar having spaced fingers;

(b) means for tabulating a record receiving device to a predetermined spaced position relative to said fingers;

(0) electrical contact means, including a first one of a series of said fingers, jointly responsive to tabulation of the record receiving device to said position and to the recording of a character to partially complete a circuit;

((1) means operable thereafter to close a switch and complete said circuit;

(e) a device responsive to completion of the circuit for recording a character and for moving said contact bar a distance equal to said finger spacing; and

(f) means responsive to said recording device to open and then to close said circuit to cause repeated action of said character recording device.

2. An automatic repeat character recording device as defined in claim 1 having a key and means responsive to a first depression thereof to initiate the operation of said tabulating means and responsive to the second depression thereof to complete said circuit.

3. A repeat character recording device as defined in claim 1 including a second circuit comprising a finger electrically distinguishable from said other fingers; means responsive to said repeat recording operation to engage said distinguishable finger and energize said second circuit, and initiate the recording of a scond character.

4. A repeat character recording device comprising:

(a) a first electrical circuit having at least a pair of open switches therein;

(b) a second circuit having at least one open switch therein;

(c) means responsive'to the completion of said second circuit for closing a switch in the first circuit to condition the first circuit for completion upon closing a second switch therein; 7

(d) means alternately operable to complete said second circuit and then to close said second switch in the first circuit; and

(e) means responsive to completion of said first circuit for causing repeated operation of said recording device.

5. A repeat recording device as defined in claim 4 in which said alternately operable means comprises a key which is operable upon completing said second circuit to also cause tabulation of the recording mechanism to a predetermined position relative to an electrical wiper forming a portion of the first circuit.

6. A repeat zero printing mechanism having (a) a solenoid, operable when energized, to actuate a zero print bar;

(b) a repeat switch in the circuit of said solenoid and operable by said print bar from normally closed to open and then back to closed condition to cause repeated printing of zeros; (c) a second switch, normally open, in the circuit of said solenoid; (d) means for closing said second switch comprising:

(1) a key, operable upon a first depression thereof to energize a solenoid and initiate tabulation of a printing platen to a predetermined position;

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,600,200 6/1952 Brink 197-17 2,737,241 3/1956 Doty 235-61 X 2,771,242 11/ 1956 Waldbergen 235-61 X 2,905,297 9/1959 Stuiber et al. 197-17 3,007,632 11/1961 Dilling et al. 235-61 3,053,444 9/1962 Heise 235-61 3,072,238 1/1963 Chan 197-20 X 3,120,301 4/1964 Lorch 197-20 3,225,884 12/1965 Krauss et al. W 197-17 3,232,403 2/1966 Hebel 197-19 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E, S, BURR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AUTOMATIC REPEAT CHARACTER RECORDING DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST CONTACT BAR HAVING SPACED FINGERS; (B) MEANS FOR TABULATING A RECORD RECEIVING DEVICE TO A PREDETERMINED SPACED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FINGERS; (C) ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS, INCLUDING A FIRST ONE OF A SERIES OF SAID FINGERS, JOINTLY RESPONSIVE TO TABULATION OF THE RECORD RECEIVING DEVICE TO SAID POSITION AND TO THE RECORDING OF A CHARACTER TO PARTIALLY COMPLETE A CIRCUIT; (D) MEANS OPERABLE THEREAFTER TO CLOSE A SWITCH AND COMPLETE SAID CIRCUIT; (E) A DEVICE RESPONSIVE TO COMPLETION OF THE CIRCUIT FOR RECORDING A CHARACTER AND FOR MOVING SAID CONTACT BAR DISTANCE EQUAL TO SAID FINGER SPACING: AND (F) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID RECORDING DEVICE TO OPEN AND THEN TO CLOSE SAID CIRCUIT TO CAUSE REPEATED ACTION OF SAID CHARACTER RECORDING DEVICE. 